Basilica del Sacra Cuore – Rome, Italy
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Praetorian Barracks (Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio) is topped by a prominent statue of “Christ The Redeemer” on the bell tower is made of gilded bronze and was added in 1931. The basilica is situated on the Esquiline hill, on Via Marsala, opposite the main Termini railway station. It was designed in the Neo-Renaissance style by the architect Francesco Vespignani. The church’s construction, initiated by Pope Pius IX, faced funding difficulties and was later resumed and completed in 1887 through the efforts of Saint John Bosco. The basilica is the mother church of the Salesian Order. The rooms where St. John Bosco stayed during his visits to Rome are preserved at the rear of the basilica.
There are three entrance doorways for nave and aisles, of identical design although the nave entrance is bigger. Each is flanked by a pair of grey granite Composite columns in the round, supporting an entablature above which is a tympanum displaying a mosaic and sheltered by a projecting archivolt. The central tympanum has the Sacred Heart being venerated by angels, the left hand one has St Peter and the right hand one, St Paul.
Arcade of round arch windows in the triforium with Peter, Jesus and Paul.
Baptism of Christ.
Altar of Saints Joachim and Anna with a painting of the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anna. The altar is one of the many side altars within the basilica. The central painting is a work by the Italian master painter Francesco de Rohden (1817-1903). The altar and surrounding structures are lavishly decorated with various types of marble, including Siena and Trento marbles. The floor in front of the altar is a classic black and white checkered pattern, likely using marble varieties such as Bardiglio gray and white marble. The altar is dedicated to Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
This image is of an altar inside the Basilica del Sacro Cuore di Gesù (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) a Castro Pretorio in Rome, which has a strong connection to Don Bosco (Saint John Bosco). The painting depicts St. Don Bosco with a young Dominic Savio.
Don Bosco made his final trip to Rome for the church’s consecration on May 14, 1887. Two days later, he celebrated his first and only Mass at the altar dedicated to Mary Help of Christians in the left transept. During this Mass, he was overcome with emotion and wept, pausing up to 15 times, as he profoundly realized that the vision he had as a nine-year-old boy had been fulfilled. This spot is now known as the “Altar of Tears” in Salesian tradition.
The painting above the altar depicts the Holy Family—Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the Child Jesus—along with angels.